As many as 49 Sri Lankan Tamil refugees were today arrested in the district for planning to to set out on an illegal voyage to Australia, police said.

The refugees, residing in different camps in the state, were arrested at Vailankanni near here based on information from locals about their suspicious movements, police said.

The refugees, including 15 women and five children, had reportedly paid amounts ranging from Rs 50,000 to one lakh to an agent who had promised to arrange the travel. The agent has been absconding, police said.

On July nine, 11 Sri Lankan Tamil refugees along with an agent were arrested at Oothukadu in the district for attempting to travel to Australia illegally.